The State of Kuwait, and the Philippines signed a draft deal to regulate the work of domestic helpers, said a Kuwaiti diplomat Saturday.

Foreign Ministry Undersecretary for Consulate Affairs Sami Al-Hamad told Kuwait News Agency that the deal, which was signed last night, came as a result of a meeting between a visiting Kuwaiti ministerial delegation and Filipino authorities in Manila.

The deal will ensure the rights of both employers and employees, said Al-Hamad who affirmed that the Kuwaiti side requested that the doors for labor recruitment would be re-opened for Kuwaiti agencies, especially the government-backed Al-Durra company.

Al-Hamad noted that those interested in employing domestic workers would be able to do so by paying reasonable fees.

He added that employers must ensure that their laborers would have the right to retain their passport, as well as the right of refusing transfer of their working visa to another employer.

A Filipino request to obtain any criminal records that employers might have was denied because Kuwaiti authorities would not allow anyone with a record to recruit labor, said the Foreign Ministry official.